fischer



March 22,- 1932. H, HSCHER Re. 18,392

PENCIL Original Filed Dec. 17 1918 Reissued Mar. 22, 1932 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE HOWARD L. FISCHER, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR TBROWN & BIGELOW, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, A CORPORATION OF MINNESOTAPENCIL Original No, 1,389,426, dated August 30, 1921, Serial No.267,206, filed December 17, 1918. Application for reissue filed April12, 1923.

This invention relates to a pencil which is particularly adapted to usea marking leadof a very small diameter but of a considerable length sothat the marking lead held in writing position can be readily ejected orreleased and pushed back into the pencil casing to protect the same. Thepencil does not require any sharpening, owing to the small diameter ofthe marking lead and does not shorten in use. The primary object of thisinvention is to provide a socket or holding means for the marking leadheld in writing position, which will allow the ejecting means to ejectthe entire marking lead out of the pencil casing.

A further object of this invention is in means for automaticallyresetting the socket in position, or in readiness to receive the rearend of a new marking lead. The construction of this pencil is such thatthe body portion of the marking lead is held unsupported in the pencilcasing, while the barrel of the pencil supports the marking lead inclose proximity to the writing end of the marking lead, and the socket,which is connected to the ejecting means, holds and sup ports the rearend of the marking lead in writing position.

In the drawings forming part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the pencil, illustrating a portionthereof in cross section.

Fig. 2 is a detail of a portion of the pencil partly illustrated incross section, and illustrating a portion of the parts in a differentposition.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the pencil partly illustratedin cross section.

Fig. 4 is a view on the line 14 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal cross section of the pencil barrel.

Fig. 6 illustrates the manner in which the ejecting means is reset in abackward position ready for a new operation.

Fi 7 is a perspective View of a portion of the pencil. mechanism,illustrating the manner in which a new marking lead is inserted in theholding socket.

Fig. 8 is a detail partly in cross section of Serial No. 631,720.

an alternative construction of lead holding socket.

In the drawings, A represents a pencil having a tubular barrel 2 with aconical forward end 3, the apex 4 of which is formed with an axialopening 5. The opening 5 is approximately the same size and shape as thecross section of a marking lead 6, which is adapted to be used in thispencil.

A propelling mechanism B, which is inclosed in the housing'7, is adaptedto be held removable and in position for operation in the pencil barrel2, by means of the removable head or cap 8 the threaded portion of whichengages the threaded portion 8 in the rear end of the barrel 2. Thepropelling mechanism in the housing 7 is of any ordinary constructionsuch as illustrated in Patent No. 1,3 I9,95O, Aug. 17, 1920, and isoperated by the pusher rod 9, the cap 10 of which projects through anopening 11 in the head 8 so that the cap can be engaged and reciprocatedto reciprocate the pusher rod 9, and in turn operate the propellingmechanism in the housing 7.

When the propelling mechanism is operated, the ejector rod 12 of thesame is operated to move the same in a forward direction a step at atime, and a releasing means 13 is adapted to release theejector rod soas to allow the ejector rod 12 to be pushed in a backward direction whenit is desired to reset the same for a new operation, or to allow themarking lead 6 to be moved in a backward direction when held in writingposition'in the pencil A.

A socket 14 is slidably held on the outer or free end of the ejectingrod 12, the socket 14 being held against disengagement from the ejectorrod 12 by means of the projecting lug 15 which is formed a shortdistance back of the forward or free end 16 ofthe ejecting rod 12 andwhich engages in the longitudinally extending slot 17 formed in thespring jawed socket 14:. A coil spring 18 is soldered, or otherwisefixed at its forward end at 19 to the tubular socket l l, while the freeend of the spring 18 is adapted to engage against the washer-like end 200f the housing 7, when the ejector rod 12 is set in a backward Iposition, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 3 and 7 The coil spring 18 isstrong enough to hold the socket 14, with its forward end 21, projectingbeyond the end 16 of the ejector rod 12, as illustrated in Fig. 3, thusforming a recess 22 which is adapted to receive the marking lead 6 tohold the same frictionally tight in the socket 14.

In operation, the; marking lead 6, which is held in writing position inthe manner illus,-

trated in Fig. 1, is propelled a step at a time by the propellingmechanism out of the writing end or apex 4 of the pencil barrel, andwhen the marking lead 6-is used up enough so as to cause the end 21'ofthe socket 14 toengage against the inner surface of the conical end 3,the socket 14 is held stationary while the ejector rod 12v can beoperated by the propelling 'mechanism to slide forward through therecess 22 to eject the rear or butt end of the marking lead 6, allowingthe end 16 of the ejector rod 12 to be extended clear through the socket14 and through the opening 5, to entirely eject all of the marking lead.In this manner, practically the entire marking lead can be used up bythe pencil A. It will be noted that when the ejecting rod 12 isin'forward position, the spring 18 is out of engagement with the end 720 of the casing 7 and the socket 14 is only frictionally held, eitherby the rear coils of the spring 18 or by the socket itself, to theforward end of the ejecting rod, but when the ejecting rod is reset byholding the casing 7 between the thumb and middle finger, in the mannerillustrated in Fig. 6, and first releasing the propelling mechanism bypressing on the cap 10 with the index finger and then exerting pressureagainst the socket 14 and end 16, the ejector rod 12 is easily pushedinto backward position, compressing the spring 18 against the end 20 ofthe casing 7. As soon as the resetting pressure is removed from thesocket 14 and the end 16' of the ejector rod 12, the spring 18,expanding, forces the socket 14 forwardly on the ejector rod 12 to theposition illustrated in Fig. 3 and holds the same in this positionagainst the backward pressure upon the socket 14 incident to theinsertion of a lead thereinto, so that said socket will not move in abackward direction on the ejector rod 12 when a new marking lead isinserted in the forward end of the socket in the recess 22. This featureis important,.as it is desirable to have a considerable pressure againstthe socket 14 to hold it in outer position when it is desired to inserta new marking lead, otherwise, if the spring 18 were weak, when themarking lead is inserted in the recess 22, the frictional engagementbetween the socket and the rear end of the lead would cause the socketto move backward, and thus not allow therear end of the marking lead tobe brought into contact with the end 16 of the ejecting rod 12, andremain there during the entire ejecting stroke of the ejector rod 12. Ifthe spring 18 compresses and allows the socket 14 to slip backward whilethe lead 6 is being inserted in the recess 22, upon releasing insettingpressure from the lead 6, the spring 18 would push the socket out andleave a space between the end 16 and the rear end of the marking lead,thus allowing the lead to have a slight play when held in writingposition. This would not be practical, and is undesirable, as the leadshould be held rigid against backward movement when writing with thesame. 7

It is desirable not to have any pressure on the spring 18 when the end21 of the socket 14 is engaging against the inner conical surface orapex of the pencil barrel, as this would interfere with the propellingmechanism in the housing 7, and would prevent the ejecting rod 12 fromhaving its end 16 freely propelled through the recess 22 of the socket,and the opening 5 in the pencil barrel, while the slight friction of thesocket or rear coils of the spring 18 would not interfere with this, andwould be desirable to hold the socket in position on the forward end ofthe ejecting rod, after the rear coils of the spring 18 becomedisengaged from the washer-like end 20 of the housing 7.

In the alternative construction of socket 14, illustrated in Fig. 8, thespring 23 has its forward end secured to the rear of the socket 14rigidly at 24, and the rear coils of the spring are rigidly secured at25 to the ejector rod 12. In this construction, the spring 23 exerts aspring pressure against the socket 14 to hold it in outer position atall times, but the spring 23 is weak enough to allow the same to becompressed by the propelling mechanism when the forward edge 21 of thesocket is carried by the ejector rod 12 into the position illustrated inFig. 2, and allow the end 16 of the ejecting rod to pass through thesocket or recess 22 and through the opening 5, to. lentjirely andcompletely eject the marking In the preferred construction of thesliding socket and spring illustrated inFigs. 1 to 4 and 5 and 6 of thedrawings, the sliding socket, as hereinbefore explained, is adjustedautomatically to the position illustrated in F 3 to receive the newmarking lead, by the spring 18 when the ejector rod is reset in backwardposition.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principlesof operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I nowconsider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but I desire to haveit understood that the construction is only illustrative, and that theinvention can be carried out by other means and applied to uses otherthan those above set forth within the scope of the following claims:

1. In a pencil of the class described, having a propelling means, and anejector rod connected to said propelling means, a lead holding socketslidable on said rod, and means for automatically setting said socket inreceiving position on said ejector rod after said rod is set in backwardposition, the end of said rod, which forms an abutment for the markinglead held in said socket, being movable longitudinally in said socket toeject the marking lead out of said socket and pencil for the purposesspecified.

2. In a pencil of the class described having a barrel, removablepropelling means held in said barrel, an ejector rod connected to saidpropelling means which is adapted to be moved forward a step at a timeby said propelling means, and releasing means for releasing said ejectorrod to allow the ejector rod of said propelling means to be moved in abackward direction, a slidable socket for holding a marking lead to saidejector rod and means for holding said slidable socket againstdisengagement from said ejector rod, whereby the marking lead can beheld by said socket and propelled a step at a time out of said pencilbarrel and said slidable socket will allow said ejector rod to eject allof the lead held in writing position out of said pencil by saidpropelling means.

3. In a pencil having a tubular barrel, a conical forward end, an axialopening extending through the apex of said conical end of approximatelythe same size as the cross section of the marking lead to be usedtherein, propelling means including an ejector rod removably held insaid pencil barrel, and releasing means to allow said ejector rod to bemoved in a backward direction, a lead holding socket slidably connectedto said ejector rod, means for automatically setting said lead holdingsocket in position on said ejector rod to receive a new marking lead,and means for holding said socket against disengagement from saidejector rod for the purposes specified.

4. In a pencil having a propelling means, a lead ejecting means and areleasing means for said lead ejecting means to allow the ejecting meansto be moved in a backward direction, a slidable lead holding socketconnected to said ejecting means and means for auto matically settingand holding, against backward movement, said socket in receivingposition to receive a new marking lead when said ejecting means is setin extreme backward position, said socket holding means diminishing inholding power, as said ejecting means is moved in a forward direction insaid pencil, so that when said lead holding socket engages the innersurface of the pencil barrel, said ejecting means can slide in saidsocket with only a slight degree of friction or holding force from saidholding means bearing against said ejecting means,

saidejectingmeans forming an abutment for the rear end of the markinglead held in the socket to rigidly hold the lead against backwardmovement when held in writing position.

5. In a pencil having a barrel, a removable propelling means held insaid barrel, an ejector element connected to said propelling means whichis adapted to be moved a step at a time in a forward direction in saidpencil barrel, and releasing means for allowing said ejector element tobe moved in a backward direction, a slidable lead holding socket carriedby said element and means for automatically setting said socket inreceiving or forward position on said element for the purposesspecified.

6. In a pencil having a hollow tubular barrel, a propelling meansadapted 'to be removably inclosed in said barrel, an ejector elementconnected to said propelling means which is adapted to be moved a stepat a time in one direction longitudinally in said pencil barrel, andreleasing means for allowing said element to be moved in a backwarddirection, a slidable lead receiving socket carried by said element,means for holding said socket against disengagement from said elementand resilient means for holding said socket in a forward direction, butallowing said element to be moved longitudinally in said socket to ejectthe marking lead held by said socket completely out of said pencil andsocket by said element, said element forming a rigid abutment for saidmarking lead when said socket is in its forward position on saidelement.

7. In a pencil having a hollow barrel, a member removably mounted insaid barrel forming a propelling means, an ejector rod connected to saidpropelling means, said ejector rod being adapted to be movedlongitudinally in said barrel in a forward direction and also in arearward direction, a leadreceiving socket member carried by said rodand spring-held thereto and projecting therebeyond for holding a markinglead so that said lead may be projected out of the forward end of saidbarrel, said rod forming an abutment in direct contact with the rear endof said marking lead, and said lead-receiving socket being removablewith said propelling means and said ejector rod.

8. In a pencil of the class described having a propelling means, and anejector rod therein a slidable lead holding socket carried by said rodand adapted to project beyond the same, means for holding said socketagainst disengagement from said ejector rod, means acting to exertpressure longitudinally on said socket to set the socket in leadreceiving position when said rod is set in extreme rearward position,said means being inactive to exert longitudinal pressure on the socketwhen said rod approaches its foremost position so that when the socketengages the inner surface of the pencil barrel, the rod can slide in thesocket free from longitudinal pressure by said means, and said formingan abutment for the rear end of the marking lead held in the socket torigidly hold the lead against backward movement when held in Writingposition.

9. In a pencil, a barrel having a propelling m means removably held insaid barrel, an ejector rod connected to said propelling means which isadapted to be moved a step at a time in a forward direction, andreleasing means allowing said ejector rod to be moved in a backwarddirection, means on said ejector rod for holding a marking lead so thatall of said lead may be ejected out of the forward end of said pencil,said lead holding means on said rod being removable 120 with saidejecting mechanism and said ejector rod.

' HOWARD L, FISCHER;

